Woman Sues Lyft After Being Denied Ride Due to Her Size

A woman has filed a lawsuit against Lyft after being refused a ride because of her size. Learn more about the case and its implications for discrimination policies in ride-sharing services.

Detroit rapper Dank Demoss is taking legal action against the ride-share company Lyft, claiming she was denied entry to a car she requested due to her weight.

Demoss, legally known as Dajua Blanding, posted a video on Instagram on January 19 that documented an encounter with a purported Lyft driver who refused to give her a ride.

“I’m sorry, but my car is small and I don’t have any space,” the driver says in the clip.

“I can fit in this car,” replies Demoss, who is 29.

“Trust me, you can’t. … I’m sorry about this. I’ll cancel the ride and you won’t be charged,” the driver responds.

“So you’re saying I can’t ride in the Lyft because your car isn’t big enough for me? … Are you actually telling me that I’m too large to fit, so I need to order another Lyft?” Demoss asks.

The driver replies, “You should really consider ordering a larger vehicle.”

He adds that a problem with his tires is the reason she can’t ride in the car.

On Tuesday, Demoss revealed the lawsuit on social media by sharing videos featuring herself with her legal team.

The lawsuit was initiated in Michigan’s Wayne County Circuit Court against Lyft and the driver, referred to as John Doe. It alleges violations of Michigan’s Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act, which prohibits discrimination based on religion, race, color, age, sex, height, weight or familial status.

The complaint states that on January 18, Demoss arranged and paid for a Lyft ride from her home in Detroit to attend a football watch-party at her cousin’s residence.

According to the lawsuit, when she attempted to enter a Mercedes-Benz sedan upon its arrival, the driver locked the doors and tried to drive away.

According to the complaint, he stated that Demoss was “too large” to fit in the back seat and that “his tires couldn’t support Plaintiff’s weight.”

He drove away, leaving Demoss unable to attend her cousin’s party. Consequently, she experienced stress, humiliation, mental anguish, and emotional harm, according to the complaint.

According to the complaint, Lyft and its agents, representatives, and employees engaged in unlawful discrimination against the Plaintiff because of her weight. They treated her differently from other individuals in similar situations due to this reason and permitted harassment that was also based on her weight.

The lawsuit aims to recover attorney fees, costs, and exemplary damages.

Demoss mentioned that the experience has left a lasting impact on her, and she hopes the lawsuit will encourage people to treat each other differently.

“I felt embarrassed and a bit uneasy about it,” she shared with WDIV, an NBC affiliate in Detroit. “Since then, I haven’t really left my house.”

Zach Runyan, the attorney representing Demoss, stated: “Denying someone transportation due to their weight is not only unlawful but also hazardous.”

“Consider what might have happened if Ms. Blanding had been unable to find shelter after the driver left her stranded. The situation could have turned out even more disastrously,” he remarked.

In a statement, Lyft expressed its strong condemnation of all types of discrimination.

“We are committed to fostering a community that values equal respect and mutual kindness for all. Our community guidelines and terms of service explicitly prohibit any form of harassment or discrimination,” stated a spokesperson.

Lyft stated that it is unable to comment on particular incidents involving ongoing legal matters and clarified that its drivers operate as independent contractors.